Article 3 of the Saudi Social Security Law
المادة 3 من نظام الضمان الاجتماعي · الباب الثاني: التقديم وتحديد الاحتياج
The article requires the pension application to be submitted to the competent department of the Ministry with supporting data and documents, and leaves the procedural details and documents to the Implementing Regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تُقدم طلبات المعاش إلى الجهة المختصة في الوزارة، متضمنة البيانات والمستندات اللازمة التي تدعم طلب المعاش. وتحدد اللائحة إجراءات تقديم الطلب والبيانات والشروط والمستندات والوثائق اللازمة.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 3 explained in plain English
This article sets the basic rule for how to apply for a social security pension: the application is submitted to the competent department of the Ministry, which under Article 1 is the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
The application must include:
- The necessary data on the applicant's situation.
- The documents that support the pension application.
The article itself does not set out a list of documents or the steps of submission. It refers to the Implementing Regulations to specify the procedures for submitting the application and the necessary data, conditions, documents, and papers. The Regulations and what the Ministry announces should therefore be consulted for the practical details.
The "applicant" under Article 1 is the person who submits the application for the original pension or his representative or delegate, so the application can be submitted by the person himself or by someone who acts for him or whom he authorizes. The pension requested is a monthly amount paid as social assistance to the beneficiary, and the beneficiary may be an independent person or a family.
This article is linked to Article 4, which makes submitting the application consent to the Ministry obtaining information relating to it from government or private bodies, and it serves the objective of guaranteeing a minimum income in Article 2. It is important that the data provided be accurate and complete, because they are the basis for examining the application.
Practical example
Um Khalid is a widow living with her children in Dammam, and she wishes to apply for a social security pension. She submits her application to the competent department of the Ministry with the data and documents that support her situation, and she complies with the documents specified by the Regulations. Her adult son can submit the application on her behalf if she authorizes him.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 3 of the Saudi Social Security Law
Where do I submit a social security application?
The application is submitted to the competent department of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, with the data and documents that support it.
What documents are required for social security?
The article does not specify them. It refers to the Implementing Regulations to specify the necessary data, conditions, documents, and papers and the procedures for submission.
Can another person submit the social security application for me?
Yes. The applicant under the definition in Article 1 includes the person who submits the original application, or his representative or delegate.
More articles on Applying for Social Security
- Article 4
The article treats submitting a pension application as the applicant's consent to the Ministry obtaining information relating to it from government or private bodies.
يعد تقديم طلب المعاش موافقة على حصول الوزارة على المعلومات المتعلقة به من الجهات الحكومية أو الخاصة. وتحدد اللائحة الإجراءات المتبعة في ذلك.
- Article 5
The article assigns the Ministry to collect data on the situations of independent persons and families and examine them to estimate entitlement, from applications and the data of government bodies, associations, civil institutions, and others.
تتولى الوزارة جمع البيانات لمعرفة حالات المستقلين والأسر ودراستها لغرض تقدير الاستحقاق، وذلك من خلال الطلبات المقدمة إليها والبيانات الإضافية التي لدى الجهات ال
- Article 6
The article requires the Ministry to notify the applicant within 20 days of submission of its decision to accept the application under the entitlement criteria or to reject it with reasons.
تُبلغ الوزارة مقدم الطلب خلال (عشرين) يومًا من تاريخ تقديمه بقرارها بقبول الطلب وفقًا لمعايير الاستحقاق، أو برفضه مع التسبيب. وتحدد اللائحة الإجراءات المتبعة في
- Article 7
The original applicant and the beneficiary must notify the Ministry within 15 days of any change in their circumstances that affects entitlement to the pension or its amount.
على مقدم الطلب الأصيل والمستفيد إبلاغ الوزارة بأي تغيير في أوضاع أي منهما يؤثر على استحقاقهما للمعاش أو مقداره، وذلك خلال (خمسة عشر) يوماً من تاريخ التغيير.
- Article 8
The article requires the Ministry to follow up regularly on the beneficiary's situation to verify continued entitlement to the pension and the correctness of its amount, and refers its regulation to the Regulations.
على الوزارة القيام بمتابعة منتظمة لحالة المستفيد للتأكد من مدى استحقاقه للمعاش ومقداره. وتحدد اللائحة الأحكام المنظمة لذلك.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.